"Bah! Without considering what kind of person you are, you dare entertain such disgraceful thoughts? Let tell you—better get rid of such ideas quickly! Or else don’t bla for being rude; I’ll go outside right now and announce it to everyone with drums and gongs!"
"What’s your surna again? Yes, Niu! This woman from the Niu family has no sha, not even married yet, and she’s already infatuated with my son-in-law during broad daylight, disregarding her honor and reputation, eager to beco a concubine!"
...
Upon hearing this, Lady Fang was panic-stricken, her whole body weakened, and she knelt on the ground, kowtowing and pleading for rcy: "Old Granny, Madam, my daughter is naive! It’s all my fault! I am the one who should die! I beg Old Granny and Madam to punish , spare my young girl; she’s still young, and if these words spread, how will she face the future—"
The won who ca along to pay respects were all petrified, witnessing the situation before them. Who dared to speak? They stood silently, retreating into the corners like quails.
Old Granny Zhang was not one to easily forgive. She had been worried about this matter; Fang and the girl from the Niu family ran straight into her, and it was the perfect opportunity. If she didn’t cause a scene, make an example of them, who knows how many others were harboring such thoughts?
Besides, if Lady Fang truly had no such intention, would she have brought Miss Niu here? Why didn’t others bring their daughters?
Though they speak nicely now, aren’t they still harboring such crooked intentions in their hearts?
Now that they’ve been exposed, they pretend to be weak and beg for rcy? Isn’t it just because their own daughter is young, and thus easier to bully?
Their daughter is young, and many things are unspeakable.
But this old woman has a thick skin, and today she’s letting it all out!
She then stood with hands on her hips and scolded: "Bah! You dare to have such thoughts, yet afraid it might spread? If you dare to do it, don’t fear being cursed! Ungrateful wretches, forgot who saved you yesterday? If it weren’t for my daughter and son-in-law, you’d all have surely been slaughtered by the water bandits and fed to the turtles in the river!"
"Having received such kindness from my daughter and son-in-law, I don’t expect you to repay us, but I never thought you’d be so ungrateful! Barely escaped death, and now you covet my daughter’s husband! Worse than pigs and dogs!"
As she spoke, she ordered Li Xia and Gu Yu: "Chase them out! Fetch water to clean this house; such shaless tramps have dirtied my place! And smash all their cups and throw them away—"
Li Xia and Gu Yu, having received the order, stepped forward to drag the people out.
Lady Fang was still okay, but her face turned ashen and her whole body weakened, collapsing to the ground.
Miss Niu felt her face burning; after all, she’s an unmarried girl, being scolded so directly, how could she take it?
Especially as she looked up at Wang Yongzhu sitting confidently above, smiling at her, as if watching a clown.
Unable to swallow her pride, she desperately thought of a plan, sprinted to the window, grabbed the window fra, and threatened: "Don’t co closer! If you do, I’ll jump!"
Li Xia and Gu Yu, hearing this, knowing it’s a life at stake, had to stop, turning to look at Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu.
If it were others, they might indeed have been frightened by Miss Niu’s tactic and tried to persuade her gently.
But who are Old Granny Zhang and Wang Yongzhu?
Old Granny Zhang laughed coldly: "Jump! If you have the guts, jump now! If you don’t, then you’re a heartless, ungrateful tramp who wants to be a second wife!"
Lady Fang cried and shouted: "Daughter, don’t be rash! Mom knows you’ve been wronged, but you can’t think about dying!"
This statent almost openly accused Wang Yongzhu of humiliating and coercing her daughter, forcing her to seek death as a statent.
Wang Yongzhu glanced at Lady Fang, and with just one look, sent chills down Lady Fang’s spine, silencing her.
Only when Lady Fang dared not speak did Wang Yongzhu look at Miss Niu, size her up, and speak leisurely: "Miss Niu, if you want to jump, you better do it quickly, since it’s almost noon, the river water isn’t as cold anymore, so you won’t freeze and cramp up right away and sink directly to the river’s center."
"Moreover, should you jump from here, there are dozens of boats around, and surely more than a hundred swimming n will try to save you!"
"You’re dressed so lightly, once the fabric hits the water, probably it’ll be as if you have nothing on. By then, it won’t matter who saves you up, you’ll be seen completely anyway. As the saying goes, under everyone’s watch, having skin contact with soone, being seen entirely, who knows who you might end up marrying! Too many witnesses to count—"
This speech was unhurried, echoing in everyone’s ears, not to ntion Miss Niu and Lady Fang.
Even the won hiding in the corner pretending to be quails couldn’t help but chuckle.
Lady Fang turned pale, truly anxious now, "Daughter, you must not jump—"
Because if she jumps, she might end up with so lowly boatman or laborer, not to ntion dreaming about climbing to Lord Song; the Niu family na would be utterly disgraced.
Initially, seeing this lady of Lord Song, she knew their plans had likely failed.
And their little sche was exposed completely, in front of everyone.
All dignity and face lost; once they leave this ship, her daughter’s reputation would be utterly ruined.
Unexpectedly, her daughter thought of this suicidal approach, being pushed with no retreat, they tried to cooperate, hoping to pressure the madam.
Isn’t it said that officials care about reputation? For Lord Song’s reputation, for the madam, maybe there’s still a chance.
Who would’ve thought, this lady of Lord Song, appeared amiable and smiling, yet her words were so vicious.
Now stuck in a dilemma, Lady Fang didn’t know how to resolve it.
Miss Niu was also dumbfounded; she didn’t expect Wang Yongzhu to not play by the rules. Usually, with such a suicidal act, the madam, for reputation or life, should coax and persuade, allowing further pressure.
Saying her reputation is already tarnished, unable to marry, then find a chance to cry in front of Lord Song; she didn’t believe Lord Song wouldn’t be moved?
Then it would be a straightforward move, being accepted by Lord Song?
How did it beco such a predicant, neither being able to jump nor stay, in the madam’s words?
Being young and inexperienced, Miss Niu was stuck, unsure what to do, only eyeing Lady Fang.
This mother-daughter eye exchange was noticed by the others, and everyone’s understanding deepened.
Lady Fang almost spat blood! This isn’t a daughter, but an adversary!
In her desperation, she heard soone outside asking: "What’s going on? Who’s causing a commotion on the ship?"
Lady Fang and Miss Niu’s eyes brightened, looking towards the doorway.
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